If your dream is to become a great web designer and have the most recognised qualification for today’s employment market, you’ll need to study Adobe Dreamweaver.

The full Adobe Web Creative Suite should also be understood in-depth. This will mean you have knowledge of Flash and Action Script, amongst others, and will put you on track to gain your ACE (Adobe Certified Expert) or ACP (Adobe Certified Professional) qualification.

In order to develop into a professional web-designer however, there is much more to consider. You will need to learn certain programming skills like HTML, PHP and MySQL. A good understanding of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and E-Commerce will also improve your CV and employability.

A question; why ought we to be looking at commercial qualifications rather than the usual academic qualifications gained through schools, colleges or universities?

With a growing demand for specific technological expertise, the IT sector has of necessity moved to specific, honed-in training that can only come from the vendors – for example companies like Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA. This usually turns out to involve less time and financial outlay.

The training is effectively done by honing in on the skills that are really needed (along with a relevant amount of background knowledge,) instead of trawling through all the background non-specific minutiae that degrees in computing are prone to get tied up in (because the syllabus is so wide).

Imagine if you were an employer – and you required somebody who had very specific skills. What should you do: Pore through loads of academic qualifications from several applicants, having to ask what each has covered and which vocational skills have been attained, or choose particular accreditations that perfectly fit your needs, and then choose your interviewees based around that. You’ll then be able to concentrate on getting a feel for the person at interview – instead of having to work out if they can do the job.

If you may be starting with a certification company who still utilises workshop days as part of their program, then consider these typical downsides experienced by many students:

* Regular travelling – very long trips usually.

* Availability of classes; normally weekdays only and sometimes two to three days together. It’s not easy to get the time off work.

* Don’t ignore lost holiday time. Usually we’re lucky to have twenty days annual leave. If over 50 percent is used in classes, then it doesn’t leave much for us and our families.

* In a situation where running costs are very high, most training providers make the classes quite large – not really ideal (and far less personal).

* Tension is often caused in classes as students want to progress at their own pace.

* Don’t overlook the increased financial outlay of driving or taking public transport or bed and breakfast for the night either. Often, this will cost hundreds and even thousands of pounds extra. Take some time to add it all up – you may be surprised.

* Do you really want even a small chance of letting yourself be side-stepped for a possible promotion or wage increases while you’re training.

* Surely, all of us at some time have avoided asking a question, because we didn’t want to look stupid?

* Working away from home – a fair few attendees find they have to work or live away for part of their study. Events are therefore hard to get to, unfortunately the money has already changed hands in your initial payment.

Why not watch on-screen and study with industry specialists one-to-one through videoed lessons, taking them when it’s convenient for you, not someone else.

Just imagine… Utilising a notebook PC you can learn absolutely anywhere you want (within reason!) And live 24×7 support is only a web-browser click away in case of difficulty.

Just re-watch and re-cover the modules as often as you need to. And of course, you don’t have to take notes because the class is available whenever you want it.

The upshot: Reduced stress, more money in the bank, and absolutely no travelling.

Copyright Scott Edwards. Check out www.CareerChangeCourses.co.uk/ucachco.html or Microsoft Access Courses.